Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1887-01-09
A MARINE DISASTER.
An Ocean Steamer Wrecked Or the
Virginia Coast.

NORFOLK, Va, Jan. S-One Of tie
most disastrous shipwrecks which ever oc-
CURED on the Virginia coast happened at .
o'clock this morning near the Little Island
life saving station, 40 miles south of Cape
Henry. Not less than twenty. and prob
ably more, lives were lost; among them
five life saving men, who III the discharge
of their duty were drowned. The morning
was bitterly cold, and "A binding snow
storm prevailed, with the wind blowing q
gale from the northeast During luli in
the storm the life saving patrol from Little
Island life saving station sighted IA large
ship stranded on the bar about 800 yar,!s
from the shore. When he saw tie vessel
he was going to meet the patrol from
Damneck station and changed checks,
sboN ing that both patrolmen had been to
the end OF their beat.
The Damneck patrol was only 4 few
wards distant when the vessel was sighted
and both fired rockets to notify the cren
of the stranded ship that had been seen.
They hurried back 10 their respective Sta
tionS and gave the alarm. In a little while
both creus,with life boats and apparatus
were abreast With the wreck, and the boom
of a mortar announced that line had bee.
shot To theiil-fated vessel. The snot was
unsuccessful, aud accond was fred with
with ike result. After firing six unSuc-
ceSsful shots. the life-sayin- men determin-
ed 10 brave the furious sea- and The death
which seemed certain 20 await their ven
ture. The word Of COB, AM. being given
by CaptH,.9. iDelanza of life saving station
NJ. I. known rs little Island. Six Of the
most expert boatmen manned each boat.
At this command the men gave way wlth
a will and III q moment both boats were
breaSliug the furious waves. They reach
cd the ship in safety. and five Of ships
crew were taken in life boat aud ten in Il
ships boat which was launched orthe pur-
nose were headed for shore and not a word
was spoken. for each man realized the
awful peri! which surrounded them. W lth
a steady pull the two boats were making
GOOD hradwav for the shore, when wave
Of great power struck both boats, cap>lz
ing them instantly and pitching their p
occurautS into the boiling sea. Then be
can a desperate struggle for life, and with
many of the men it WAS a prolonged one.
The h0rritied life savers on The beach were
powerl,-ss to assist their drowning com
rades or the unfortunate strangers
The drowning men were carried south
word bv the seas and some Of them were
washed ashore. A. they came within
reach they were picked up and endcaVorS
made IA revive them. and in two instances
with success. although one Of the two y
badly injured The vessel is the German
ship Elizabeth. Captain Halber>tadt, from
Hamburg to Baltimore, and not one her
crew survives the wreck Her cargo Is
unknown - the high seas have thus far
prevented any attempt 10 reach her 1t Is
thought she is leaking badly and At sunset
her maStS were thought to he giving way
Ofthe life saving crew the following
were lost:
Abel Bcl;:nza. captain of No. 4. known
rs Little Island: J. W. Land. same station;
George W. Stone, same; j. A beIanza. Of
Danneck station. and brother of Abel;
Joseph Spartlv, Of Damneck; John Ether
idre and Frank Tedfori. of No. i station
were washed ashore and resu>citaei. but
Ftheridge IS SO badly injured that It Is
thought he cannot survive,